Incendiary bomb



S. WILEY INCENDIARY BOMB July 29, 1930.

Fild May 25, 1929 Eamuel Wi l ey Patented July 29,, ll3

LTZAS U'EL WILEY, OF METUCEEN, NEW JERSEY monnnmmr 30MB Application filed may 25, 1929. Serial No. 366,001.

(GRANTED UNDER THE ACT-0F MARCH 3, 1883, AS AMENDED AIRIL 30, 1928; 370 0. G. 757) distributed over a large area by being released at prescribed intervals. While it has heretofore been proposed to successively release signal lights from aerial carriers in a somewhat similar manner, the time fuses employed therein have been determined to provide only such a brief interval as to permit a distinction between signals. In the present invention the controlling idea is to establish releasing intervals of appreciable magnitude in order that the bomb may be carried by the wind over a great distance and thereby institute conflagration over such a large area that they can not ordinarily be extinguished. The incendiary composition, on being discharged, is ignited after a delay calculated to approximate its time of descent.

The incendiary units are arranged in a casing in such a manner as to cooperate with each other in their discharge and so that the assembly will be safe to handle and be accommoted in the standard bomb carrying racks and releasing mechanism mounted on air craft.

With the foregoing and other .objects in view, the invention resides in the novel arrangement and combination of parts and in the details of construction hereinafter described and claimed, it being understood that changes in the precise embodiment of the invention herein disclosed may be made within the scope of what is claimed without departing from the spirit of the invention.

A practical embodiment of the invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Fig. 1 is a longitudinal sectional view of an incendiary bomb constructed in accord-- ance with the invention;

Fig. 2 is a longitudinal sectional view of one of the incendiary units with the incendiary composition in cartridge form;

Fig. 3 is a sectional View on the line 33 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a perspective view of the bomb.

- Referring to the drawings by numerals of reference:

The bomb consists of two cylindrical containers 5 and 6, the former enclosing a parachute and the latter an assembly 8 of incendiary units 9. The adjoining units of the containers are secured to each other and one end unit is attached to a diaphragm 10 in which the suspension cord 11 of the parachute is anchored.

The incendiary units 9 which may be of any desired number are, excepting for the outermost one, all of similar construction. Referring to Fig. 2; each unit comprises a casing formed by a cylindrical shell 12 closed at each end by a block to which the shell is secured. The outer block 13 and the inner block 14; are formed exteriorly with annular recesses respectively, 15 and 16, the former being of greater diameter than the latter so as to marginally receive an annular flange 17 of the inner block of an adjoining incendiary unit. The inter-fitted ends of adjoining units cooperatively establish a discharge device in which the outer unit is a projectile, carrying its own expelling charge 18 in the recess 16 and guided and constrained to axial departure from the container 6 by virtue of the disposition of its flange 17 in the barrel formed by the recess 15 of the rear unit.

The blocks 13 and 14 of a unit are centrally apertured to receive a tube 19 in which is placed a delay powder train 20 and a quickmatch 21. The powder train which is ignitable from the expelling charge of an outer unit serves as a time fuse in transmitting ignition to the expelling charge of the unit with which it is associated, and thereby insures an appreciable interval between expulsion of the units.

The inner block 14 carries one or more tubes 22 opening into the recess 16 to afford access to the expelling charge and extending into the incendiary composition or cartrid es 23 loaded into the casing. Within each tu e .flame communication from the expelling.

22 is a delay owder train 24 for transmitting ignition to the incendiary composition after an interval calculated to permit its descent to the ground.

The incendiary units are detachably secured to each other, preferably by an adhesive substance 25, the diaphragm having the same structure as the block 13 and serving to similarly support the assembly of units.

The outer block 26 of the end unit is formed with a transverse passage 27 in which is placed an igniting mechanism 28, preferably of the friction type. The actuating wire 29 is conducted along the exterior of the casing 6 and is introduced within the container 5 for attachment to the suspension cord of the parachute.

The bomb is supported in the rack of an airplane by means ofhangers 30. A frangible connection 31 secured to the apex of the parachute and to the closure 32 of the parachute container is attached to the bomb rack. This connection is ordinarily confined within a removable protective cap 33 which is removed bei'ore placing the bomb in the rack.

in operation when the bomb is released from the rack the connection 31, on being drawn taut, removes the closure 32 and extracts the parachute from the container as the bomb descends. When the shrouds and suspension cord of the parachute become taut, the weight of the bomb causes a severance of the connection 31. The actuating wire 29 of the igniting mechanism 28, being connected to the suspension cord will be moved when the parachute is withdrawn or if connected to the parachute it will be operated on distention thereof and produce ignition of the delay train of the end unit 9. The flame from the delay train is communicated to the expelling charge, causing the discharge of a unit and simultaneous ignition of its delay train 24 designed to institute ignition of the incendiary composition when the unit arrive on the ground.

The successive discharge of the remaining units of the bomb is accomplished in the same manner.

I claim:

1. A bomb including containers secured at adjoining ends, a fixed diaphragm between the containers, a parachute in one of the containers, an assembly of separable incendiary units in the other container detachably secured to the diaphragm, each unit including.

a casing, an inflammable composition therein, an expelling charge carried externally by the inner end of the casing, a delay powder train establishing flame communication from the outer end of the casing to the expelling charge, a delay powder train establishing charge to the inflammable composition and means operable after release of the bomb for igniting the delay train leading to the expelling charge of the outermost unit.

2. A bomb including containers secured at adjoining ends, a fixed diaphragm between the containers, a arachute in one of the containers, an assem ly of separable incendiary units in the other container detachably secured to the diaphragm, each unit including a casing, an inflammable composition therein, an expelling charge carried externall by the inner end of the casing, a delay pow er train establishing flame communication from the outer end of the casing to the expellin and means for igniting the delay pow er train of the outermost unit.

3. A bomb including a container, separably connected inflammable units having interfitted ends disposed in the container, each unit including a casing, an inflammable composition therein, an expelling charge carried externally by one end of the casing, delay means for transmitting ignition from end' to end of the casing, delay means establishing flame communication from the inner end of the casing to the inflammable composition and means for initiating ignition.

4:. A bomb, including a container, separably connected units having interfitted ends disposed in the container, an expelling charge interposed between units, means for transmitting ignition between expelling charges, an inflammable composition in each unit and a delay powder train in each unit having communication with an expelling charge and the inflammable composition.

5. A bomb, including a container, separably connected units having interfitted ends disposed in the container, an expelling charge interposed between units, means for transmitting ignition between expelling charges and an inflammable com osition ineach unit.

L WILEY.

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